After her death, she was
interred
beside St.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v4
In this copy, we do not find his name occurring, either at the 14th or at the 27th of December.
Uuifen in]-e picc. "
—
"Com-
April 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 543
the feast of St. Lucridiiis of Kill-Lucridhe, Abbot of Clonmacnoise, at this day. Hewasborn,mostprolwhlytowardsthecloseoftlieseventhcenuny. This saint, it is said, w:is appointed Abbot over Clonmacnoise, the ruins of which yetexist,ontheRiverShannon'sleftbank,withintheKing'sCounty. This great ruonastery was then in a very flourisiiing condition. Through reverence for the founder, even the cemetery at this place had always been a favourite place of burial, from St. Kieran's time. 3 There are several ancient inscriptions to be seen, in the cemetery of Clonmacnoise, and many of which date back to an exceedingly remote period. * As we learn, that Comman of Ross died in the year 742, as Abbot of Clonmacnoise,5 it seems probable, that he was immediately succeeded by St. Luicridh. This latter is said to liave died, a. d. 740,* according to the O'Clerys. Over this date, a more recent hand has
inserted 752. ' Thus, St. Luicridh died, on the 29thof April, a. d. 748, according to the Annals of the Four Masters ;' but, according to the Ulster . Annals, a. d. 752. 9 However, as the Ulster Annals relate at this year an eclipse of the sun, which really took place on the 9th of January, at 11 o'clock, a. m. , in the year 753 ; this also may have been the date for our saint's death, if we aretofollowtheauthorityoftheseAnnals. '" Wefindsetdown,intheMar- tyrology of Donegal," that veneration was paid on this day, to Luichridh, of cm Luichridh, Abbot of Cluain-mic-Nois. " In a copy of the Irish calendar, once belonging to the Irish Ordnance Survey Office, Phoenix Park, it is stated, that this saint was from Kill Luicrid. A marginal note in pencil, affixed to the latter word, and in the handwriting of Mr. O'Donovan, puts the query, if this place l>e identical with Killury, a village of Clanmaunce barony, in the
of —Thereis a a in the of and county Kerry. Killurane, parish barony Tulla,
county of—Clare Killure, a parish in the barony of Gaultier, and county of
Waterf
of Shelmalier, and
of Wex-
—ord a in the Killurin, parish barony
county
ford '-' there is also a Killury, a parish in the barony of Clanuiaurice and
county of Kerry ;'• yet, it is not ascertained, if any of these places derivedits
denomination, from the saiut venerated on this day.
Article VI. —St. Brecan, Bishop ok Movillf,, County of Down.
The name of Brecan appears, in the Martyrology of Taliagh,' at this day ; and, to it, the Bollandists give reference, at the 29th of Aj)ril. ' A festival in
honour of Brecan, Bishop of Magh-bile, or Movtlle,^ was held, on this day, as is recorded in the Martyrology of Donegal. * We know not the years, during which he continued to exercise episcopal rule ;* nor can we discover the year for his departure from this life. There are notices of a St. Braccan, or Brecan, at the i6th of July. * He is called bishop of Ardbraccan, in the county of Meath; but, also, he is called Abbot of Magh-Bile. ' The cir- cumstances related of his race and family point him out, as distinct from St. Breacan, or Brecan, the son of Eochaidh Balldearg, prince of Thomond, and
Article v. — ' In the Fr^inciscan Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 342, 343.
copy, however, we read Lucc^ro ciLli Luc- ' I'his is tlie date, in " Annals of the Four
p.
611.
'See his Life, at the 9th of Septem-
Masters," which do not mention Luicridh, '"
cjMt).
. See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
Aprilis xxix. Among the pretermitted saints,
as being distinguished of Cill Luchridh. '|
' Dr. 112. This See a note by Todd, p.
date accords with tlie AiniaU of UKter. 'See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four . Masters," vol. i. , pp. 350, 351, and n.
(o).
' See Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibernica-
rum Scriptores," tomus iv. , p. 95.
ber.
* See Miss Margaret Stokes' " Christi. m
Inscriptions in the Irish Language. "
5 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
MI
546
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 29.
from whom Ardbraccan,^ in Meath, is said to have taken denomination, His period is referred to the sixth, or very early in the seventh, century. '
Article VII. —St. Domaingen, Bishop of Tuaim Muscraighe. In the
published Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the 29th of April, is found the simple entry, Domangin of Thuaim Muscraidhe. ' In the Bollandists' collection,}
referring to the same calendar, they have Domongenus, Episcopus de 'I'uaim- Muscraig. This place is stated < to be identical with Tomcs,5 Barony of West
Muskerry, in the present county of Cork. The O'Clerys inform us, that he was son of Fionnlugh, brother to Brenainn, son of Fionnlugh, who descended from the race of Ciar, son to Fergus, son of Ros, son to Rudhraighe. The celebrated Navigator, St. Brendan,' is said to have been the son of Finlogue, or Finnlog, derivedfromthesamestock. Wearetold. thathehadabrother,abishopnamed
whose feast was to of • and, he had a sister, Domanigen, assigned 29th April
called Briga, or Brigh. This is stated, in St. Brendan's Irish Life,? and it is also said, she was of Enachduin,* according to the O'Clerys. 9 Under the head of Tuaim-Muscraighe, Duald Mac Firbis enters, Domhainghin, or Dam- hainghin, bishop of Tuaim Muscraighe. He is called, also, tlie brother of Brenainn, and at April 29th his festival is placed. '" On this day, the Martyr- ology of Donegal " likewise registers a festival, in honour of Domaingen, Bishop, of Tuaim Muscraighe.
Article VIII. —St. Senan, Confessor, in North Wales. [Seiienth
Cetitiiry. ']
The Bollandists
'
have short notices of a St. Senan, confessor, at
" The "Art de Verifier les Dates," torn. i. , p. 66, is referred to, for proof of the sun's
where there is a notice of St. Brecan, Bishop
at this
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
112, 113.
"Attheiii. oftheCalendsofMay—29th
of Ardbrecain, and Abbot of Magbile.
' Owing to the record of his assumed descent from the race of Eoghan, the son of Niall, he does not seem 10 have been at ibid. , pp. 326, 327.
"Braccan's Height. "
' See Rev. Antliony Cogan's " Diocese of
Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. i. ,chap.
vii. , p. 48. —' Rev. Dr.
Article vii. Edited by
Kelly, p. xxii.
' in the Franciscan we find Also, copy,
Oomuripn o chuaim mtn-cfije.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Ap-
rilis xxix. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 6u.
* By William M. Hennessy.
5 This denomination does not appear, on
the Irish Ordnance Survey Maps. There
is a Tomies East, a Toniies West, and a
Tomies Wood, in the parish of Aghadoe, in
the Barony of Dunkerron North, and
described, on the " Ordnance Survey Town-
land Maps for the County of Kerry," sheets
65, 66.
eclipse,
year.
of "
^"° novn Book F," p. 42.
April l. uicnn5
:
6 citt tuicniT) Abb CtuAtiA mc
''Anglicized
noil"
752. '
—
" Common Place
—in the Irish Calendar we read
different from a St. Brecan, venerated the 6th of Decerhber. See
" See Lewis' "Topographical Dictionary of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 157.
" See ibid. , — p. 158.
'
Article vi. Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p. x. xii. In the Franciscan copy, we find bpeccdiii Ab niai^ibiLi.
'
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Ap- rilis xxix. Among the pretermitted saints,
p.
611.
3 See in reference to this saint, Duald Mac
Firbis' remarks, and William M. Hennessy's
note 10 in " of the Irish Proceedings Royal
Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. 1. , part i. , pp. 86, 87.
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
112,113.
5 See Rev. William Reeves' "Ecclesiastical
Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore,
"
See his Life, at the l6th of May.
Appendix A, p. 152, 377-
and
Appendix LL, p.
? In vi. chap.
•
In chap. Ixix.
» See the " Martyrology of Donegal,"
edited Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 8, 9. by
' See Rev. Drs. Todd's and Reeves'
" of at 194, Martyrology Donegal," pp. 195,
April 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 547
this day. ' There were many Irisli saints bearing this name ; and, although
the English Martyrology derives the origin of the present holy man, from an old and a noble British stock, yet it seems likely enough, that the honour of
his birth may be referred to Ireland. His feast is noticed by Dean Cressy, as occurring at the 29th of April ; and, he is said to have been the assistant
and instructor of the holy Virgin and Martyr, St. Winefride, in the perfection of a religious life. 3 Short notices of this pious confessor are given, in the workofRev. S. Baring-Gould. -» St. Senanwasgreatlyesteemedforhismany virtues, for, at an early age, he had despised the world's vanities ; while he led an austere and a solitary life, in the northern part of Wales. This was within a territory, belonging to the father of St . Wenefrid,5 and who was called Thevith. The holy woman often paid visits to St. Senan, and she assisted at his funeral obsequies. ^ Saints Chebeus ^ and Senan departed this life before St. Wine- frid, and they were buried in the same cemetery.
After her death, she was interred beside St. Senan, and at the head of St. Winefrid the remains of St. Chebeus lay. That burial ground afterwards became celebrated for the number of pilgnms it attracted, to obtain special and spiritual favours from tiiose saints. ' The English writer Alford has assigned the period of St. Senan to the seventh century. After his death, in the country of Danmonia,' or Cornubia,'" his memory was so greatly venerated, that a town and port were calledSenan. TheBollandiststhink"thepresentSt. Senantohavebeen identical with one similarly named, who had been venerated in the parish of Plou-san^ in the diocese of Laon, in Arnioric Britanny," at the 6th of March,'3 and that, from the Welsh, his cultiis had been extended to that part of France, since the Cambrian and Armoric Britons usually celebrated the memory of the same holy persons.
Article IX. ^St. Gondibert, Gumbert, or Gundibert, Martyr. \Seventh or Eighth Century. '\ While Ferrarius has a festival, and at this day, for St. Gumbert, in Scotia ;' yet, Father Daniel Papebroke asserts, that it was
ignorance of the present holy man's history and place, which caused him to make such an observation. The Bollandists have the Acts ' of St. Gonde-
bert, a Frenchman, said by some writers, to liave been martyred in Ireland. 3
"See "Proceedings of the Royal Iiish Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part i. , pp. ijO, 131.
' Also called Cliebbi, or Cubbi.
'According to the "Vita S. Wenefridae," written by Rupert, Abbot of Shrewsbury, about the year 1140.
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
112, 113. — » Now Devon.
' '» Article vni. See "Acta Sancto-
At present Cornwall,
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
rum,," tomus iii. , Aprilisxxix.
' De Sancto Senano, confessore, in Ang-
lia, p. 620.
3 See "Church of
History Brittany,"
Book xvi. , chap, ix. , p. 391.
'See "Lives of the Saints," vol. iv. ,
April29,p. 364.
5 Her feast was kept, on the 3rd of No-
"
vemlier. The Kev. Alban Butler, in his Gumberti Mariyris. "
"^ Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other
These are chiefly from the six old Lessons
principal Saint-;," vol. xi. , has an interesting account of St. Weiiefride, or Winefride, Virgin and Martyr, at that date.
' See " Les Petit-, Bollandi-stes, Vies des
of a Proper Office, which, liowever, are said
to have been considerably interpol;aed.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum,' tomus iii. iJe S. Gondcberto Mariyrc, Avennaci in
Saints," tome v. , xxix* Jour d'Aviil, Territorio Remensi, pp. 620 to 625.
p. 67.
Aprilis xxix. IJe Sancto Senano, Confessore
in Anglia, p. 620.
" to Albert le Grand. According
'3 See the notice of a St. Senan, at this
day, in the previous volume. Articleix. —'Hestates,in "Catalo-
gus Generalis Sanctorum:" "In Scotia S.
*
See' 'Lives of the Irish Saints," vol. iii. ,
548
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 89.
He lias been noticed, at the 27th of March ;< but, many calendarists consider the 29ih of April s to have been tlie Natalis, for this holy man. He is called, likewise, Gunibert, Gundibert, or Gundebert. Under this latter designation, the Rev. S. Baring-Gould has some short notes regarding him, at this same date. ' It is supposed, St. Gondcberl flourished during the time of King Childeric 1 1. ,7 wlio succeeded Sigebert, King of Austrasia. As himself and his wife St. Bertha agreed to lead lives of strict chastity, tliey had no children. St. Gondibert founded a convent, which he dedicated to St. Peter, at Rheims;' but, according to the former Breviary of that Diocese,9 a hall, chapel and an oratory, were dedicated in that city to St. Patrick,'" and probably St. Gondi- bert was instrumental in some measure, by his founding or endowing them. If this be so, his connexion with St. Patrick's veneration seems an indication
of Gondil)ert Jiaving desired to seek the adopted country of our Patron, and to establish these religious monuments, before he went to Ireland. He erected a convent on liis own properly at Avesnes, and to this Bertha retired, for greater religious seclision. One account has it, that St. Guntbert sought a retreat, in some place beside the sea. " Again, it is stated, tliat he was with a people, dwelling around the coast of Alti Salis," and a monk of St. Remi- gius has rendered it the coast around Scotia. But, the exact locality cannot be known at present, with any degree of certainty, under that Latinized form ofname. However,FatherDanielPapebrokewillhaveit,thattheregionof the Altissalii was among the Frisons,'3 in the northern parts of Austrasia. Those Prisons were formerly a barbarous people, whose country of Frisia was conterminous with tlie Northern Ocean. '< Still, it seems to us, that Father Papebroke does not satisfactorily account for the name Scotia being changed for another, by the old writers, who have alluded to St. Gundibert's place of retreat. Pajjebroke finds in that district, comprising the diocese of Utrecht,
beyond tlie River Isala,'5 a city named Altenzel or Oldenzel,'' an ancient settlement of the Franco Salii ;'? and, he sui>i)0ses, as these Salii lived near the Saxons, or Prisons, that the word Scotia may have been usurped for
March xxvii. , Ariide xii.
circa oras Altisalii, gentili detinebatur in-
5 " Fcrrarius, in his
sania. "— iv. From this Catalogus Generalis Lect.
Sanctoium," and Menani, in his
ologium BeiiediCtinum," are of the num- ber.
' See "Lives of the Saints," vol. iv. ,
April 29, pp. 364, 365.
' See au account of his reic;n in L. P. virtue
—
Anquetil's ''Histoire de Fr. iiice. '' Pre- natiuns.
"
account, Pape- broke argues, that Ire'and could not have been the counuy 10 wliich Gundebert retired, as long before his time, St. Pairick had con- verted it to llie Christian Faitli, and that, also, in liis age, our Islam', was a school of
Mailyr-
'^ Their country lay between the Rivers
Rhine and Weser. They are divided into
theM^ijoror Oriental Fnsons and into the
Minor or Occidental Prisons. See Bav-
"
No\-um Lexicon Geographicum," toinus i. , p. 302.
'* For a more recent account of them, the
"
'5 See the " Atlas Classica," No. 32, Ger-
mania Antiqua.
'° Now a town in the Netherlands, and in
the province of Oiery>sel. See Alex. Keith This is the account given, by Klodoar- Johnstone's "Dictionary of Geoyr. iphy,
miere Racedite des Merovingiens, sect, v. ,
p. 54.
'See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's "Lives of
the Saints," vol. iv. , April 29, p. 365.
» It wns piinted A. D. 1630. In it. at the 29th of April, there is an Olliciuin Sitnplex for Si. Gunibert, . Martyr, wilh only one Lesson. This has tlie approbation of Limis, Cardinal from Lolliaringia. then Archbishop
of Rheims.
'" See tlie Bollandists' "Acta Sancto-
rum," toinus iii. , Aprilis xxix. De S.
Gondeberto, Martyre, Avennaci inTerritorio
drands
Remens', Piiimiuni, sect. 13, p. 622.
"
dus, in his " Historia Remensis," lib. iv. , '
cap. xivii.
" In the Old Office of St. Gundebert, it is
Descriptive, Physical, Statistical and Histo- rical," i. c. , p. 964. London, 1850, Svo.
' Papebioke adds: "a quibus Saliis etiam hodie lota ad Isalam regiuncula, cujus
said
" :
Illo namque tempore gens habitans
and
learning
for all the
surrounding
reader i-^ relerred to Elisee Reclus'
velle Geogr. iphie UniverscUe," tome iii. , pp. 739, 740.
Nou-
April 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 549
Frisia or Saxonia. '' Having left France for Irelanrl, Gondibert built a monas- tery there, according to received accounts. It is needless to state, its site has not been, and most probably it cannot be, discovereil. However, some marauders having invaded tiie lands belonging? to his monastery, he went forth, entreating them to respect the property of his monks. Instead of re- garding this remonstrance, they fell upon him, and during the onset, he was killed. "9 According to Saussay, liis death happened in Scoiia. ''° His relics and those of St. Bertha were preserved, it is stated, in the church or chapel at Avesnes. Whatever we know regarding both saints is ciiiefly drawn from the chronicler Flodoard, wlio lived in the tentii century. ^' Tiiis holy Martyr Gondebert was greatly venerated, in the Diocese of Rheims ; and, his office occurs in the Breviary of that See. However, the Lections have gone through various amplifications. " Although several writers, as we have seen, regard St. Gumbert, or Gundibert, as havmg spent the years of his exile in Ireland, andaltliough for such reason, we have already given place to him, in our col- lection, at the 27th of March ; still, it must be here noticed, we do not con- sider the evidences sufficiently weighty, to establish that matter beyond question.
Article X. —St. Enan, of Inis Aego, or Egg Island, Scotland.
A record is found, in the published Martyrology of Tallagh," at the 29th of April, regarding Enan, Eago. ' The Boliandists' have it, Enanus de insula
Ega, quoting the same authority, at this day. The Island of Egg or EigL;,< in Scotland, is rendered Eaga, at the 17th of April, and here . \ego, is proba- bly only another spelling, which applies to the same place. It is one of the Hebrides, about eight miles from the nearest Scottish coast, above six miles in length, and varying from a mile to three miles in breadth. 5 In our Irish calendar, moreover, at the 22nd of December, allusion is made to an Ard
Aego ;* and, it seems probable, this place does not differ from the Island iu question. On this day was venerated, Enan, of Inis Aego,' as we find entered, likewise, in the Martyrology of Donegal. '
Article XI. —Reputed Festival of Marianus Scotus.
{Eleventh Century. ] Already, at the 30th of January, we have given several notices, regarding this holy man. Cardinal Bellarmine ' has written his Life. In the
caput Altisalia est, Zallandia, id est, Salio-
rum regio nuncupatur. "
'* Paiebroke says: "Proxima his etiam
'
In ihe Fianciscan copy, we have en&m
finibus S. ixonia erat, gentilis adhnc tota etiam ip>a ; ui pro alterutro nomine Frisiae ant S. ixoiiix, . Scotice n. mien poiuerit obrep-
654.
Uuifen in]-e picc. "
—
"Com-
April 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 543
the feast of St. Lucridiiis of Kill-Lucridhe, Abbot of Clonmacnoise, at this day. Hewasborn,mostprolwhlytowardsthecloseoftlieseventhcenuny. This saint, it is said, w:is appointed Abbot over Clonmacnoise, the ruins of which yetexist,ontheRiverShannon'sleftbank,withintheKing'sCounty. This great ruonastery was then in a very flourisiiing condition. Through reverence for the founder, even the cemetery at this place had always been a favourite place of burial, from St. Kieran's time. 3 There are several ancient inscriptions to be seen, in the cemetery of Clonmacnoise, and many of which date back to an exceedingly remote period. * As we learn, that Comman of Ross died in the year 742, as Abbot of Clonmacnoise,5 it seems probable, that he was immediately succeeded by St. Luicridh. This latter is said to liave died, a. d. 740,* according to the O'Clerys. Over this date, a more recent hand has
inserted 752. ' Thus, St. Luicridh died, on the 29thof April, a. d. 748, according to the Annals of the Four Masters ;' but, according to the Ulster . Annals, a. d. 752. 9 However, as the Ulster Annals relate at this year an eclipse of the sun, which really took place on the 9th of January, at 11 o'clock, a. m. , in the year 753 ; this also may have been the date for our saint's death, if we aretofollowtheauthorityoftheseAnnals. '" Wefindsetdown,intheMar- tyrology of Donegal," that veneration was paid on this day, to Luichridh, of cm Luichridh, Abbot of Cluain-mic-Nois. " In a copy of the Irish calendar, once belonging to the Irish Ordnance Survey Office, Phoenix Park, it is stated, that this saint was from Kill Luicrid. A marginal note in pencil, affixed to the latter word, and in the handwriting of Mr. O'Donovan, puts the query, if this place l>e identical with Killury, a village of Clanmaunce barony, in the
of —Thereis a a in the of and county Kerry. Killurane, parish barony Tulla,
county of—Clare Killure, a parish in the barony of Gaultier, and county of
Waterf
of Shelmalier, and
of Wex-
—ord a in the Killurin, parish barony
county
ford '-' there is also a Killury, a parish in the barony of Clanuiaurice and
county of Kerry ;'• yet, it is not ascertained, if any of these places derivedits
denomination, from the saiut venerated on this day.
Article VI. —St. Brecan, Bishop ok Movillf,, County of Down.
The name of Brecan appears, in the Martyrology of Taliagh,' at this day ; and, to it, the Bollandists give reference, at the 29th of Aj)ril. ' A festival in
honour of Brecan, Bishop of Magh-bile, or Movtlle,^ was held, on this day, as is recorded in the Martyrology of Donegal. * We know not the years, during which he continued to exercise episcopal rule ;* nor can we discover the year for his departure from this life. There are notices of a St. Braccan, or Brecan, at the i6th of July. * He is called bishop of Ardbraccan, in the county of Meath; but, also, he is called Abbot of Magh-Bile. ' The cir- cumstances related of his race and family point him out, as distinct from St. Breacan, or Brecan, the son of Eochaidh Balldearg, prince of Thomond, and
Article v. — ' In the Fr^inciscan Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 342, 343.
copy, however, we read Lucc^ro ciLli Luc- ' I'his is tlie date, in " Annals of the Four
p.
611.
'See his Life, at the 9th of Septem-
Masters," which do not mention Luicridh, '"
cjMt).
. See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
Aprilis xxix. Among the pretermitted saints,
as being distinguished of Cill Luchridh. '|
' Dr. 112. This See a note by Todd, p.
date accords with tlie AiniaU of UKter. 'See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four . Masters," vol. i. , pp. 350, 351, and n.
(o).
' See Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibernica-
rum Scriptores," tomus iv. , p. 95.
ber.
* See Miss Margaret Stokes' " Christi. m
Inscriptions in the Irish Language. "
5 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
MI
546
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 29.
from whom Ardbraccan,^ in Meath, is said to have taken denomination, His period is referred to the sixth, or very early in the seventh, century. '
Article VII. —St. Domaingen, Bishop of Tuaim Muscraighe. In the
published Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the 29th of April, is found the simple entry, Domangin of Thuaim Muscraidhe. ' In the Bollandists' collection,}
referring to the same calendar, they have Domongenus, Episcopus de 'I'uaim- Muscraig. This place is stated < to be identical with Tomcs,5 Barony of West
Muskerry, in the present county of Cork. The O'Clerys inform us, that he was son of Fionnlugh, brother to Brenainn, son of Fionnlugh, who descended from the race of Ciar, son to Fergus, son of Ros, son to Rudhraighe. The celebrated Navigator, St. Brendan,' is said to have been the son of Finlogue, or Finnlog, derivedfromthesamestock. Wearetold. thathehadabrother,abishopnamed
whose feast was to of • and, he had a sister, Domanigen, assigned 29th April
called Briga, or Brigh. This is stated, in St. Brendan's Irish Life,? and it is also said, she was of Enachduin,* according to the O'Clerys. 9 Under the head of Tuaim-Muscraighe, Duald Mac Firbis enters, Domhainghin, or Dam- hainghin, bishop of Tuaim Muscraighe. He is called, also, tlie brother of Brenainn, and at April 29th his festival is placed. '" On this day, the Martyr- ology of Donegal " likewise registers a festival, in honour of Domaingen, Bishop, of Tuaim Muscraighe.
Article VIII. —St. Senan, Confessor, in North Wales. [Seiienth
Cetitiiry. ']
The Bollandists
'
have short notices of a St. Senan, confessor, at
" The "Art de Verifier les Dates," torn. i. , p. 66, is referred to, for proof of the sun's
where there is a notice of St. Brecan, Bishop
at this
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
112, 113.
"Attheiii. oftheCalendsofMay—29th
of Ardbrecain, and Abbot of Magbile.
' Owing to the record of his assumed descent from the race of Eoghan, the son of Niall, he does not seem 10 have been at ibid. , pp. 326, 327.
"Braccan's Height. "
' See Rev. Antliony Cogan's " Diocese of
Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. i. ,chap.
vii. , p. 48. —' Rev. Dr.
Article vii. Edited by
Kelly, p. xxii.
' in the Franciscan we find Also, copy,
Oomuripn o chuaim mtn-cfije.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Ap-
rilis xxix. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 6u.
* By William M. Hennessy.
5 This denomination does not appear, on
the Irish Ordnance Survey Maps. There
is a Tomies East, a Toniies West, and a
Tomies Wood, in the parish of Aghadoe, in
the Barony of Dunkerron North, and
described, on the " Ordnance Survey Town-
land Maps for the County of Kerry," sheets
65, 66.
eclipse,
year.
of "
^"° novn Book F," p. 42.
April l. uicnn5
:
6 citt tuicniT) Abb CtuAtiA mc
''Anglicized
noil"
752. '
—
" Common Place
—in the Irish Calendar we read
different from a St. Brecan, venerated the 6th of Decerhber. See
" See Lewis' "Topographical Dictionary of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 157.
" See ibid. , — p. 158.
'
Article vi. Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p. x. xii. In the Franciscan copy, we find bpeccdiii Ab niai^ibiLi.
'
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Ap- rilis xxix. Among the pretermitted saints,
p.
611.
3 See in reference to this saint, Duald Mac
Firbis' remarks, and William M. Hennessy's
note 10 in " of the Irish Proceedings Royal
Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. 1. , part i. , pp. 86, 87.
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
112,113.
5 See Rev. William Reeves' "Ecclesiastical
Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore,
"
See his Life, at the l6th of May.
Appendix A, p. 152, 377-
and
Appendix LL, p.
? In vi. chap.
•
In chap. Ixix.
» See the " Martyrology of Donegal,"
edited Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 8, 9. by
' See Rev. Drs. Todd's and Reeves'
" of at 194, Martyrology Donegal," pp. 195,
April 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 547
this day. ' There were many Irisli saints bearing this name ; and, although
the English Martyrology derives the origin of the present holy man, from an old and a noble British stock, yet it seems likely enough, that the honour of
his birth may be referred to Ireland. His feast is noticed by Dean Cressy, as occurring at the 29th of April ; and, he is said to have been the assistant
and instructor of the holy Virgin and Martyr, St. Winefride, in the perfection of a religious life. 3 Short notices of this pious confessor are given, in the workofRev. S. Baring-Gould. -» St. Senanwasgreatlyesteemedforhismany virtues, for, at an early age, he had despised the world's vanities ; while he led an austere and a solitary life, in the northern part of Wales. This was within a territory, belonging to the father of St . Wenefrid,5 and who was called Thevith. The holy woman often paid visits to St. Senan, and she assisted at his funeral obsequies. ^ Saints Chebeus ^ and Senan departed this life before St. Wine- frid, and they were buried in the same cemetery.
After her death, she was interred beside St. Senan, and at the head of St. Winefrid the remains of St. Chebeus lay. That burial ground afterwards became celebrated for the number of pilgnms it attracted, to obtain special and spiritual favours from tiiose saints. ' The English writer Alford has assigned the period of St. Senan to the seventh century. After his death, in the country of Danmonia,' or Cornubia,'" his memory was so greatly venerated, that a town and port were calledSenan. TheBollandiststhink"thepresentSt. Senantohavebeen identical with one similarly named, who had been venerated in the parish of Plou-san^ in the diocese of Laon, in Arnioric Britanny," at the 6th of March,'3 and that, from the Welsh, his cultiis had been extended to that part of France, since the Cambrian and Armoric Britons usually celebrated the memory of the same holy persons.
Article IX. ^St. Gondibert, Gumbert, or Gundibert, Martyr. \Seventh or Eighth Century. '\ While Ferrarius has a festival, and at this day, for St. Gumbert, in Scotia ;' yet, Father Daniel Papebroke asserts, that it was
ignorance of the present holy man's history and place, which caused him to make such an observation. The Bollandists have the Acts ' of St. Gonde-
bert, a Frenchman, said by some writers, to liave been martyred in Ireland. 3
"See "Proceedings of the Royal Iiish Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part i. , pp. ijO, 131.
' Also called Cliebbi, or Cubbi.
'According to the "Vita S. Wenefridae," written by Rupert, Abbot of Shrewsbury, about the year 1140.
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
112, 113. — » Now Devon.
' '» Article vni. See "Acta Sancto-
At present Cornwall,
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
rum,," tomus iii. , Aprilisxxix.
' De Sancto Senano, confessore, in Ang-
lia, p. 620.
3 See "Church of
History Brittany,"
Book xvi. , chap, ix. , p. 391.
'See "Lives of the Saints," vol. iv. ,
April29,p. 364.
5 Her feast was kept, on the 3rd of No-
"
vemlier. The Kev. Alban Butler, in his Gumberti Mariyris. "
"^ Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other
These are chiefly from the six old Lessons
principal Saint-;," vol. xi. , has an interesting account of St. Weiiefride, or Winefride, Virgin and Martyr, at that date.
' See " Les Petit-, Bollandi-stes, Vies des
of a Proper Office, which, liowever, are said
to have been considerably interpol;aed.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum,' tomus iii. iJe S. Gondcberto Mariyrc, Avennaci in
Saints," tome v. , xxix* Jour d'Aviil, Territorio Remensi, pp. 620 to 625.
p. 67.
Aprilis xxix. IJe Sancto Senano, Confessore
in Anglia, p. 620.
" to Albert le Grand. According
'3 See the notice of a St. Senan, at this
day, in the previous volume. Articleix. —'Hestates,in "Catalo-
gus Generalis Sanctorum:" "In Scotia S.
*
See' 'Lives of the Irish Saints," vol. iii. ,
548
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 89.
He lias been noticed, at the 27th of March ;< but, many calendarists consider the 29ih of April s to have been tlie Natalis, for this holy man. He is called, likewise, Gunibert, Gundibert, or Gundebert. Under this latter designation, the Rev. S. Baring-Gould has some short notes regarding him, at this same date. ' It is supposed, St. Gondcberl flourished during the time of King Childeric 1 1. ,7 wlio succeeded Sigebert, King of Austrasia. As himself and his wife St. Bertha agreed to lead lives of strict chastity, tliey had no children. St. Gondibert founded a convent, which he dedicated to St. Peter, at Rheims;' but, according to the former Breviary of that Diocese,9 a hall, chapel and an oratory, were dedicated in that city to St. Patrick,'" and probably St. Gondi- bert was instrumental in some measure, by his founding or endowing them. If this be so, his connexion with St. Patrick's veneration seems an indication
of Gondil)ert Jiaving desired to seek the adopted country of our Patron, and to establish these religious monuments, before he went to Ireland. He erected a convent on liis own properly at Avesnes, and to this Bertha retired, for greater religious seclision. One account has it, that St. Guntbert sought a retreat, in some place beside the sea. " Again, it is stated, tliat he was with a people, dwelling around the coast of Alti Salis," and a monk of St. Remi- gius has rendered it the coast around Scotia. But, the exact locality cannot be known at present, with any degree of certainty, under that Latinized form ofname. However,FatherDanielPapebrokewillhaveit,thattheregionof the Altissalii was among the Frisons,'3 in the northern parts of Austrasia. Those Prisons were formerly a barbarous people, whose country of Frisia was conterminous with tlie Northern Ocean. '< Still, it seems to us, that Father Papebroke does not satisfactorily account for the name Scotia being changed for another, by the old writers, who have alluded to St. Gundibert's place of retreat. Pajjebroke finds in that district, comprising the diocese of Utrecht,
beyond tlie River Isala,'5 a city named Altenzel or Oldenzel,'' an ancient settlement of the Franco Salii ;'? and, he sui>i)0ses, as these Salii lived near the Saxons, or Prisons, that the word Scotia may have been usurped for
March xxvii. , Ariide xii.
circa oras Altisalii, gentili detinebatur in-
5 " Fcrrarius, in his
sania. "— iv. From this Catalogus Generalis Lect.
Sanctoium," and Menani, in his
ologium BeiiediCtinum," are of the num- ber.
' See "Lives of the Saints," vol. iv. ,
April 29, pp. 364, 365.
' See au account of his reic;n in L. P. virtue
—
Anquetil's ''Histoire de Fr. iiice. '' Pre- natiuns.
"
account, Pape- broke argues, that Ire'and could not have been the counuy 10 wliich Gundebert retired, as long before his time, St. Pairick had con- verted it to llie Christian Faitli, and that, also, in liis age, our Islam', was a school of
Mailyr-
'^ Their country lay between the Rivers
Rhine and Weser. They are divided into
theM^ijoror Oriental Fnsons and into the
Minor or Occidental Prisons. See Bav-
"
No\-um Lexicon Geographicum," toinus i. , p. 302.
'* For a more recent account of them, the
"
'5 See the " Atlas Classica," No. 32, Ger-
mania Antiqua.
'° Now a town in the Netherlands, and in
the province of Oiery>sel. See Alex. Keith This is the account given, by Klodoar- Johnstone's "Dictionary of Geoyr. iphy,
miere Racedite des Merovingiens, sect, v. ,
p. 54.
'See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's "Lives of
the Saints," vol. iv. , April 29, p. 365.
» It wns piinted A. D. 1630. In it. at the 29th of April, there is an Olliciuin Sitnplex for Si. Gunibert, . Martyr, wilh only one Lesson. This has tlie approbation of Limis, Cardinal from Lolliaringia. then Archbishop
of Rheims.
'" See tlie Bollandists' "Acta Sancto-
rum," toinus iii. , Aprilis xxix. De S.
Gondeberto, Martyre, Avennaci inTerritorio
drands
Remens', Piiimiuni, sect. 13, p. 622.
"
dus, in his " Historia Remensis," lib. iv. , '
cap. xivii.
" In the Old Office of St. Gundebert, it is
Descriptive, Physical, Statistical and Histo- rical," i. c. , p. 964. London, 1850, Svo.
' Papebioke adds: "a quibus Saliis etiam hodie lota ad Isalam regiuncula, cujus
said
" :
Illo namque tempore gens habitans
and
learning
for all the
surrounding
reader i-^ relerred to Elisee Reclus'
velle Geogr. iphie UniverscUe," tome iii. , pp. 739, 740.
Nou-
April 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 549
Frisia or Saxonia. '' Having left France for Irelanrl, Gondibert built a monas- tery there, according to received accounts. It is needless to state, its site has not been, and most probably it cannot be, discovereil. However, some marauders having invaded tiie lands belonging? to his monastery, he went forth, entreating them to respect the property of his monks. Instead of re- garding this remonstrance, they fell upon him, and during the onset, he was killed. "9 According to Saussay, liis death happened in Scoiia. ''° His relics and those of St. Bertha were preserved, it is stated, in the church or chapel at Avesnes. Whatever we know regarding both saints is ciiiefly drawn from the chronicler Flodoard, wlio lived in the tentii century. ^' Tiiis holy Martyr Gondebert was greatly venerated, in the Diocese of Rheims ; and, his office occurs in the Breviary of that See. However, the Lections have gone through various amplifications. " Although several writers, as we have seen, regard St. Gumbert, or Gundibert, as havmg spent the years of his exile in Ireland, andaltliough for such reason, we have already given place to him, in our col- lection, at the 27th of March ; still, it must be here noticed, we do not con- sider the evidences sufficiently weighty, to establish that matter beyond question.
Article X. —St. Enan, of Inis Aego, or Egg Island, Scotland.
A record is found, in the published Martyrology of Tallagh," at the 29th of April, regarding Enan, Eago. ' The Boliandists' have it, Enanus de insula
Ega, quoting the same authority, at this day. The Island of Egg or EigL;,< in Scotland, is rendered Eaga, at the 17th of April, and here . \ego, is proba- bly only another spelling, which applies to the same place. It is one of the Hebrides, about eight miles from the nearest Scottish coast, above six miles in length, and varying from a mile to three miles in breadth. 5 In our Irish calendar, moreover, at the 22nd of December, allusion is made to an Ard
Aego ;* and, it seems probable, this place does not differ from the Island iu question. On this day was venerated, Enan, of Inis Aego,' as we find entered, likewise, in the Martyrology of Donegal. '
Article XI. —Reputed Festival of Marianus Scotus.
{Eleventh Century. ] Already, at the 30th of January, we have given several notices, regarding this holy man. Cardinal Bellarmine ' has written his Life. In the
caput Altisalia est, Zallandia, id est, Salio-
rum regio nuncupatur. "
'* Paiebroke says: "Proxima his etiam
'
In ihe Fianciscan copy, we have en&m
finibus S. ixonia erat, gentilis adhnc tota etiam ip>a ; ui pro alterutro nomine Frisiae ant S. ixoiiix, . Scotice n. mien poiuerit obrep-
654.
